It’s almost four months since Polycarp Igathe’s resignation and Nairobians are still impatiently waiting for his replacement.
The most impatient of all appear to be members of the Nairobi Assembly allied to the Opposition party. Led by Minority Chief Whip Peter Imwatok, the ward representatives have given Governor Mike Sonko seven days to nominate Deputy Governor.
They say failure to do this will result in legal action against Sonko. They argue that the city is in a mess and that Sonko really needs help.
“We are seeing how the county is, garbage everywhere, roads are pathetic and all these blames are directed at the governor. He needs a deputy to advise him and also do some of these jobs, especially supervisory,” Imwatok told a press conference at City Hall on Monday.
Imwatok argued that Sonko seems to have disregarded an advisory by the Supreme Court to nominate a deputy. The Court issued the advisory on March 9 to both Sonko and his Nyeri counterpart Mutahi Kahiga.
“I don’t believe if the mess we are seeing in Nairobi would have been here if Igathe was still the deputy. We need a deputy now to help the Governor do his work,” added Imwatok.
On Sonko saying he was considering appointing a Kikuyu lady as his deputy, Imwatok said: “We don’t care about the tribe. Nairobi has many professionals. So what we want is a deputy.”
During an interview on Kameme FM last month, Sonko said he would only consult President Uhuru Kenyatta and deputy president William Ruto.
“I know that the deputy governor post should go to a Kikuyu because they have a large population that supported me but let me appoint a Kikuyu I want. A technocrat, a professional and an elite. I already have names and I will give it to a woman but I need to consult first and the only people I will consult are President Uhuru Kenyatta and deputy president William Ruto,” said Sonko.
Corporate guru Ms Agnes Kagure, former Kiambu Woman Representative Ann Nyokabi, and former Starehe MP Bishop Margaret Wanjiru are some of the notable names being touted for the deputy governor seat.
